Alou says he won't manage any differently now than when he was in Montreal.

"There is nothing new in this game," Alou said. "I am ready for the opener. I'm glad to be away from Arizona."

A sellout crowd of more than 61,300 is expected as the Padres open their 35th and final season at Qualcomm Stadium. The Padres move into downtown's Petco Park next spring.

The scheduled starters are Giants left-hander Kirk Rueter, 14-18 last year, and Padres right-hander Brian Lawrence, 12-12 in his first full season.

Bonds hit 10 homers during spring games, breaking his own team record of nine, set in 2000.

Bonds has always teed off on San Diego. He has 70 career homers against the Padres, his most against any team, and 37 in San Diego, his most in any road ballpark.

Of his 119 homers the last two seasons, Bonds hit 18 against San Diego.

"There's only one guy here who can promise the long ball," Alou said of the 38-year-old Bonds.

"I think we're going to be a more fundamental team this year," Alou said. "More running and fielding and pitching. We don't have the power we did last year. But we will score runs. I finally see why they don't pitch to Barry. He's so smart he just won't take that bad pitch."

Bonds finally achieved his dream of playing in a World Series, losing to the Anaheim Angels in seven games. He hit .370 to earn his first batting title, and became the oldest first-time winner.

Lawrence, meanwhile, will be San Diego's seventh opening-day pitcher in as many seasons. The Padres haven't had a pitcher make consecutive opening-day starts since Andy Benes from 1993-95.

"It's definitely an honor and now I just have to go out and there and show everybody that I deserve to be there," said Lawrence, who has a nasty sinker. "There may be some added pressure but it's welcome pressure."

"It doesn't matter who it is to me. I'm just going to go out there and pitch the best I can."

The Padres were 66-96 last year, their fourth straight losing season since they were swept in the 1998 World Series by the New York Yankees. The Padres made it through their rotation just four times last season before they started getting hit with injuries.

San Diego opens this season without its top slugger, Phil Nevin, and standout closer Trevor Hoffman.

Nevin is likely out for the entire year after dislocating his left shoulder diving for a fly ball in left field on March 7. Hoffman, fifth on the career list with 352 saves, has had two shoulder surgeries since the end of last season and is out until after the All-Star break.